Caesar" redirects here.

For other uses, see Caesar (disambiguation) and Julius Caesar

(disambiguation).
For the German politician, see Cajus Julius Caesar.

Gaius Julius Caesar

The Tusculum portrait, possibly the only surviving sculpture of

Caesar made during his lifetime. Archaeological

Museum, Turin, Italy.

Born 12 July 100 BC[1]

Rome, Italy

Died 15 March 44 BC (aged 55)

Rome, Italy

Cause of death Assassination (stab wounds)

Resting place Temple of Caesar, Rome

41.891943°N 12.486246°E

Occupation Politician, soldier

 Bellum Gallicum
Notable work
Bellum Civile

Office Dictator (49–44 BC)

Consul (59, 48, 46–45, 44 BC)

Spouse(s) Cossutia (disputed)

Cornelia

(m. 84 BC; d. 69 BC)

Pompeia

(m. 67 BC; div. 61 BC)

Calpurnia

(m. 59 BC)

Partner(s) Cleopatra

Children Julia

Caesarion (unacknowledged)

Augustus (adoptive)

Parent(s) Gaius Julius Caesar and Aurelia

Military career

Years 81–45 BC

Conflicts Siege of Mytilene

Gallic Wars

Caesar's civil war

Alexandrine war

Awards Civic Crown

Gaius Julius Caesar (Latin: [ˈɡaːiʊs ˈjuːliʊs ˈkae̯sar]; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was
a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies
in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, and subsequently
became dictator of Rome from 49 BC until his assassination in 44 BC. He played a critical role in the
events that led to the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire.
In 60 BC, Caesar, Crassus and Pompey formed the First Triumvirate, a political alliance that
dominated Roman politics for several years. Their attempts to amass power as Populares were
opposed by the Optimates within the Roman Senate, among them Cato the Younger with the
frequent support of Cicero. Caesar rose to become one of the most powerful politicians in the
Roman Republic through a string of military victories in the Gallic Wars, completed by 51 BC, which
greatly extended Roman territory. During this time he both invaded Britain and built a bridge across
the Rhine river. These achievements and the support of his veteran army threatened to eclipse the
standing of Pompey, who had realigned himself with the Senate after the death of Crassus in 53 BC.
With the Gallic Wars concluded, the Senate ordered Caesar to step down from his military command
and return to Rome. In 49 BC, Caesar openly defied the Senate's authority by crossing the
Rubicon and marching towards Rome at the head of an army.[2] This began Caesar's civil war, which
he won, leaving him in a position of near unchallenged power and influence in 45 BC.
After assuming control of government, Caesar began a program of social and governmental reforms,
including the creation of the Julian calendar. He gave citizenship to many residents of far regions of
the Roman Republic. He initiated land reform and support for veterans. He centralized the
bureaucracy of the Republic and was eventually proclaimed "dictator for life" (dictator perpetuo). His
populist and authoritarian reforms angered the elites, who began to conspire against him. On
the Ides of March (15 March), 44 BC, Caesar was assassinated by a group of rebellious senators led
by Brutus and Cassius, who stabbed him to death.[3][4] A new series of civil wars broke out and
the constitutional government of the Republic was never fully restored. Caesar's great-nephew and
adopted heir Octavian, later known as Augustus, rose to sole power after defeating his opponents in
the last civil war of the Roman Republic. Octavian set about solidifying his power, and the era of
the Roman Empire began.